San Jose SaberCats

SaberCats Add FB Tommy Taggart and LB Wesley Maui’a

Thursday March 28, 2013

SAN JOSE, Calif. - The SaberCats announced today that they have been assigned fullback Tommy Taggart, who spent 2012 in San Jose and former San Antonio Talons linebacker Wesley Maui’a on two-year contracts.

“Being able to add Wesley and bringing Tommy back into the fold gives our football team a big boost,” said Owner/Head Coach Darren Arbet. “Both of them are veterans in this league and are going to be counted on to help build on our success from Week 1.”

Taggart (6-3, 285, Oklahoma) returns to San Jose after a fantastic 2012 campaign that was interrupted due to injury. The three-year Arena Football League veteran appeared in 11 games last season and carried the ball 46 times for 119 yards and 12 touchdowns. Additionally, he caught six passes out of the backfield for 57 yards and one more score. He was a key fixture as a pass protector as well for one of the most explosive offenses in the league. The former Oklahoma Sooner spent 2011 as a member of the New Orleans VooDoo, rushing for 193 yards and nine touchdowns on 44 carries in 16 games played. He broke into the league in 2011 with the Dallas Vigilantes as a defensive lineman, posting 14.5 total tackles in seven appearances.

Maui’a (6-2, 275, Western New Mexico State) spent the 2012 campaign with the San Antonio Talons, where he recorded 16 tackles (ten solo), as well as four-and-a-half sacks and had two fumble recoveries. While with Western New Mexico State, Maui’a had 24 tackles in just eight games for the Mustangs, including a career-high seven tackles against Chadron State. Maui’a also played for San Joaquin Delta College, where he was named first team All-Area in his sophomore year. The Stockton native attended Edison High School and earned First Team All-Area, Defensive Player of the Year and team's Most Improved Player honors as a senior.

The SaberCats (1-0) open their 2013 home slate on Friday, March 29 against the Orlando Predators (0-1) at 7:30 p.m. PT at HP Pavilion. The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a SaberCats rally towel, courtesy of Logitech. The game will be broadcast live on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and KNBR 1050.

ABOUT THE SAN JOSE SABERCATS
The ArenaBowl XVI, XVIII and XXI champion San Jose SaberCats, are in their 17th Arena Football League season. Fans can log on to thesanjosesabercats.com, call 408-673-3400 and follow the SaberCats on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@SJSaberCats) for all of the latest news and information on the team. Please contact the front office at the above phone number for information on 2013 Season Ticket Packages.